A Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Roman Government, Regnal history 1
THE RAIGNE OF KING WILLIAM THE SECOND.
KING William the Second called Rufus, second Son to William the Conquerour, appointed Successor by his Fathers Will; was upon the fifth of October, in the yeare 1087. by Lanfranke Archbishop of Canterbury, Crowned at Westminster King of England. Wherein his Father seemes to have followed the Example of Iacob, who gave to his younger sonne Ioseph, the Land which he had taken with his Sword and his Bow: for with his sword and his Bow, had King William gotten the Land of England; and therefore might justly bestow it on which of his Sonnes he pleased. And besides, there was cause enough, why he should shew this Sonne of his some extraordinary favour, seeing in the Rebellion of his brother Robert, yet he stood firmely for his Father; and in his quarrell incurred no small hazard of his life, as wherein he received divers wounds: and perhaps also, his Father thought the rough disposition of this sonne, fitter to bridle the insurrections of the English, then the softly disposition of his sonne Robert.
But though he have thus quietly gotten the Crowne, he must not looke to hold it so; and indeed at his very beginning is assaulted with two troubles in one: for both his Brother Robert prepares to recover it from him, and the Lords of the Kingdome combine with Robert to assist him in it. The first mover of this trouble was Odo Bishop of Bayeux, his Unckle, who finding himselfe not to beare the sway he expected, and specially for an old grudge he bore to Lanfranke, Arch-bishop of Canterbury, as by whose means, in the former Kings time he had bin imprisoned (the Arch-bishop telling him, that though he might not imprison a Bishop, yet he might imprison an Earle of Kent, as this Odo was made not long before) he drawes many other Bishops and Temporall Lords to joyne with him… in behalfe of Duke Robert, against the King: but though the storme were violent for a while, yet it soon passed over; that indeed of his Lords, with more difficulty: but that of his brother Robert with more cost: For it was at last agreed, that Rufus should pay him three thousand markes a yeare, during his life, and leave him the Kingdome after his owne decease. But there was difficulty in repressing his Rebell Lords, by reason of their spreading themselves abroad in many quarters. For Odo fortifyed himselfe in Kent; Roger Montgomery, Earle of Shrewsbury, in Norfolke, Suffolke, and Cambridgeshire; Hugh de Grandmenill, in Leycestershire, and Northamptonshire; Robert Mowbray Earle of Northumberland, possest himselfe of Bristow; William Bishop of Durham, of the North parts of the Realme; and divers other of the Clergy, and Nobility, fortify themselves in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, and all the Countries adjoyning to Wales, thinking by this meanes to distract the King that he should not know where to beginne, nor whither to turne him. But this course, as it made it hard to represse them suddenly, so it made it easie to represse them at leisure; for being thus divided, they were but as single stickes, that are easily broken; where if they had united themselves, as into a Faggot, they might have made a strength of farre greater resistance. But the King having Lanfranke Arch-bishop of Canterbury, and Woolstan Bishop of Worcester, firme of his side: partly by their Authority and love amongst the people; but chiefely by his owne promises, to restore their ancient Lawes, and to allow them liberty of hunting in his Forests, he so firmely wonne the hearts of all unto him; that some of the Rebell Lords he reconciled with faire words, as Robert Montgomery; (a principall sinew of the Faction) some againe he mastered by strong hand, and Odo the chiefe Engineere of all the worke, he besieged in the Castle of Rochester, tooke him Prisoner, and forced him to abjure the Realme. And thus this great Rebellion was suppressed: In which it is observable, that though so many hot bloods were up, yet there was but little blood spilt. A happy rebellion for the English; for the Rebell Lords and Bishops being all Normans, the King had none to trust to, but the English, whom for their faithfulnesse to him in this service, he ever after respected more then he had done befo…e.
After this storme was over in the South, there ariseth another in the North; For now Malcolme King of Scots, thinking it a fit time to doe some feates when King William was troubled at home; invades Northumberland, and having burnt and spoyled the Country, returnes home laden with booties. Which King William hearing, he takes his brother Robert along with him, and with a mighty Army enters Scotland, brings Malcolme to acknowledge his ancient homage: and upon Faith given, returnes to London. After this, Duke Robert finding his brother King William, not to keep his promise, in paying his Pension, complaines to the King of France, and with his ayde, assaults and takes some Townes, which he before had delivered in pawne for money to his brother King William; who hearing of it, hastens into Normandy with an Army, and by the mediation of money takes off the King of France, and makes his brother, being left destitute of assistance, to aske him pardon: a wise and mercifull course in King William; for to buy his peace with the King of France, did cost him but money, where to have purchased it by Warre, must besides money, have cost the lives of many. After this Malcolme, King of Scots, came in kindnesse to visit King William at Glocester: but the King not vouchsafing so much as to see him, put him into so great an indignation, that returning home, he makes ready an Army, invades Northumberland, making great spoyle and getting great spoyles, but by Robert Mowbray, the Kings Lieutenant there, was taken in ambush, and together with his eldest sonne Edward, defeated and slaine. This King Malcolme was a most valiant Prince, as may appeare by an Act of his of an extraordinary straine; for hearing of a conspiracy plotted to murther him, whereof one was Authour, whose name is not recorded, he dissembled the knowing it, till being abroad one day a hunting, he tooke the fellow apart from the company, and being alone, said unto him: Here now is a fit time and place, to doe that manfully, which you have intended to doe treacherously; draw your weapon, and if you kill me, none being present, you can incurre no danger: with which speech of the King, the fellow was so daunted, that presently he fell downe at his feet, confessed his fault, humbly asked forgivenesse, and being granted him, was ever after serviceable and faithfull to him. The death of King Malcolme and his Sonne, was so grievous, and so grievously taken of Margaret his Queene, the sister of Edgar Atheling, that she made it her Prayer, and had it granted, not to over-live them, and so, within three dayes after dyed: a woman as full of vertues all her life, as at this time of sorrowes; whom yet I should not breake order to mention, but for one pious Act of hers, in causing a most barbarous custome of Scotland to be abrogated, that when a man marryed, his Lord should lye the first night with his Bride. Which custome by her indevour was altered to a payment in money.
After these troubles were ended in the North, a new trouble ariseth in the West; for now the Welsh men hearing of King Williams distractions, enter upon the English borders, making spoyle and havocke of men and Townes: whom King William went with an Army to encounter, but could doe no good upon them, till he was faine to returne to London, and provide him a stronger Army. About this time also Robert Mowbray Earle of Northumberland, by whom Malcolme King of Scots was in King Williams service formerly slaine, finding his service not rewarded as he expected, enters into Conspiracy against the King; but the King being informed of the practise, seiseth suddenly upon many of his Compl…ces, and himselfe, after many devises and shifts for flight, is taken and put in prison, in the Castle of Windsor. After this, King William to take a further revenge of the Welsh, and to make an absolute conquest of that unquiet people, with a farre greater Army then ever before, enters Wales, and thinkes with new devices of Castles and Forts, utterly to subdue them, but they defending themselves, with their Woods, and Mountainous passages, tyre and weary out the King and his Army, so as he leaves the businesse to two Hughes, one, Earle of Salop, the other of Chester, who first invaded and tooke Anglesey, (their Island of refuge) where they used all kinde of cruelty, pulling out of eyes, and cutting off hands and noses: in prosecuting of which businesse, Hugh Earle of Salop was slaine, but Hugh Earle of Chester, entred Wales, and in the end, with the slaughter of Rees, the last King of Wales, made an absolute Conquest of the Country. For after this, though they often rebelled, yet they were in a true subjection. And these for the most part, were all the troubles of his Raigne: where we may observe, that none of them did ever overtake him, but still he met them, and from none of them he ever fled, but was still the pursuer, and yet so many as might well have taken away all the comfort of a Crowne, and have made him willing to change his Diadem for a paire of Beades, but that Ambition, though sometimes weary, yet never ty…es.
His Exactions and Courses for raising of money.
IN the second yeare of his Raigne, Lanfranke Arch-bishop of Canterbury dyed, who had kept the kingdome and King in some good Order, but assoone as he was dead, the King, as though he were then got loose, ranged without reines, in all licentiousnesse: preying especially upon the Clergy, as amongst whom he found the richest Booties. When Bishoprickes or Abbeyes were vacant, it was familiar with him to seise them into his owne hands, as this of Lanfranke, he kept to his owne use foure yeares together, and longer would have kept it, if a sicknesse of his Body had not healed this disease of his minde: For finding himselfe in some hazard of death, he then conferred the Arch-bishopricke of Canterbury upon Anselme, and the Bishopricke of Lincolne, upon Robert Bloet, two eminent men of that time; but assoone as hee was well againe, it repented him of that he had done, and was not quiet, till hee had drawne from the said Bloet, five thousand pounds, and from Anselme also good summes of money. For he repented not more in time of sicknesse for the evill he had done in health, then being in health, he repented him of the good he had done in sicknesse; that it may in a manner be said, there was nothing made him sicke but health, and nothing made him be in health but sicknesse. But this preying upon the Clergy was growne into such a custome with him, that he kept in his hands at one time, three Bishoprickes, Canterbury, Winchester, and Salisbury; and twelve Abbeys; all which he let out to Farme, and received the profits: and from this King, the use is said to have risen first in England, that the Kings succeeding had the Temporalties of Bishops Sees, as long as they remained voyd. Having agreed to pay the King of France a great summe of money, he raised it in this manner; He caused twenty thousand men to be levied, under pretence for his warres in Normandy; but when they were ready to be shipped, it was signified to them from the King, that whosoever would pay tenne shillings towards the levying of Souldiers in Normandy, should be excused from going, and stay at home; which was so plausible an offer to the Army, that scarce a man was found that accepted not the condition. When Duke Robert went into the Holy Land he pawned his D…tchy of Normandy to his Brother King William for 6666. pounds, or as some write, for 12600. which money King William tooke up part by a grievous Imposition: so that Bishops melted their Plate, and the Temporall Lords spoyled their Tenants for the payment thereof: and part by loane; but chiefely of Religious persons. He sold the Abbey of Glastenbury to Thurstan for five hundred pounds; and when he built Westminster Hall, he made that an occasion to lay a heavie taxe upon the people, who grudged at it, as done of purpose. He usually sold all Spirituall preferments, to them would give most; and tooke Fines of Priests for Fornication: as also he tooke money of Jewes, to cause such of them as were converted, to renounce Christianity, and returne to Judaisme, as making more benefit by their Unbeliefe then by their Conversion. He caused divers of the Nobility to pay grievous Fines for transgressing his Laws, though the fault were never so small. He set forth a Proclamation that none should goe out of the Realme without his Licence, by which he drew much money from many; for either they must tarry at home and live discontented, or else content him for giving them leave to goe abroad. And from thence the Custome or Law of Ne exeas Regno, seemes to have taken its beginning: for Precedents of servitude are sure to live, where Precedents of Liberty are commonly still-borne. These were his wayes for raising of money, wherein Promoters and Informers were his darling servants; and the most officious of all was Ralph Bishop of Durham, of whom he would often say, there was not such another man in the world to serve a Kings turne. And yet he was not so greedy of lucre but that he did some Acts that may serve for examples: as one time, an Abbey being vacant, two Monkes of the Covent came suiters to him for the place, offering great summes, and each of them out-bidding the other; whereupon the King looking about, and espying another Monk standing not farre off, asked him what he would give for the place? Who answering, he neither had any thing to give, nor would give any thing if he had it: Well (said the King) thou hast spoken honestly, thou art fitter to be Abbot then either of these; and so bestowed the place upon him gratis.
Of his Magnanimity.
VVOrd was brought him as he sate at dinner, that his City of Mans in Normandy was besieged, and in great danger to be taken, if not presently relieved: whereupon the King asked which way Mans lay; and then caused Masons presently to take downe the Wall, to make him passage the next way, and so rode instantly towards the Sea. His Lords about him, advising him to stay till his people were ready: No (saith he) but such as love me I know will follow me. And being come on Shipboard, and the weather growing very tempestuous, he was advised by the Master of his Ship, to stay for some calmer season: No (saith he) Feare nothing, I never yet heard of any King that was drowned. And thereby comming to Mans …nexpected, he presently dispersed the Besiegers, and tooke Helias Count de la Flesche, who had been Authour of the tumult, Prisoner; who vaunting to the King, and saying, Now indeed you have taken me by a wile; but if I were at liberty againe, you should finde me to doe other manner of feats: at which the King laughing; Well then (saith he) go your wayes and doe your worst, and let us see what feats you will do. Being reconciled to his Brother Robert, he assisted him to recover the Fort of Mount Saint Michael, which their Brother Henry did forcibly hold in Normandy: during which siege, straggling one time alone upon the shoare, he was set upon by three horsmen, who assaulted him so fiercely, that they drove him from his saddle, and his saddle from his horse; but he taking up his saddle, and withall drawing out his sword, defended himselfe till rescue came: and being afterward blamed for being so obstinate to save his saddle, he answered: It would have angred me at the very heart, that the knaves should have bragged they had wonne the saddle from me.
Of his justnesse in keeping his word.
THis vertue specially was commended in him, and he would often say, that even God himselfe was obliged by his word. But if we observe the course of his life, we shall finde that howsoever he might keepe his word in small matters, yet certainly not in great… For he kept not his word with his Brother Robert, to whom he promised to leave the Kingdome of England after his decease, but performed it not. Nor he kept not his word with his subjects, for in the rebellion of the Norman Lords, he promised the English, if they would now stick to him, they should have their ancient Lawes restored, and be allowed liberty to hunt in his Forests; which promise he either kept not at all, or at least soone brake. Nor he kept not his word with God himselfe; for being sick at Glocester, and in some hazard of his life, he made a solemne vow, that if he recovered, he would leade a new life, and give over all his disorderly courses: but being recovered, he grew more disorderly then he was before that if denomination be made from the greatest actions, it cannot be truly said that he was just of his word; but such is the priviledge of Princes over their subjects, that if they make a promise it must be beleeved; and if they breake it, it must not be questioned.
Of his Incontinencie.
MUch is spoken of his lascivious life in generall, but nothing in particular: for neither is mentioned any violence he ever offered to any; nor is any woman named to have beene his Concubine, and Princes Concubines are seldome concealed. It is true he was never married, and of a strong constitution of body, and so probable he might be inclining to that vice; but probabilities are not alwayes concluding, and therfore whether it be a true accusation, or but a slander, it may well be doubted: only one base son of his is spoken of, called Bertrannus, whom he advanced in honour, and matched in a Noble Family. But why should we more look for particulars of his Incontinency, then of his Prodigality? for he was taxed no lesse for being Prodigall, then for being Incontinent; and yet of his Prodigality there is not so much as one instance recorded, unlesse we take this for an instance; that when his Chamberlaine brought him a paire of hose, which because they were new, he asked what they cost? And being told they cost three shillings, in a great chafe he threw them away; asking him, If he thought a paire of hose of three shillings, to be fit for a King to weare? Get thee gone (saith he) and let me have a paire of a Marke. His Chamberlaine went, and bringng him another paire scarce so good as the former, and telling him they cost a Marke; I marry (saith the King) these are something like, and was better satisfied with hearing what they cost, then with seeing what they were worth: and yet was this no imputation to his wisdome, for to say the truth, it is no defect of wisdome in a King to be ignorant what his cloaths are worth.
Of his wavering in Religion.
HE appointed a disputation to be held betweene Christians and Jewes, and before the day came, the Jewes brought the King a Present, to the end they might have an indifferent hearing; The King took the Present, encouraging them to quit themselves like men: and swore by Saint Lukes face (his usuall oath) that if they prevailed in Disputation, he would himselfe turne Jew, and be of their Religion. A young Jew on a time was converted to the Christian Faith, whose Father being much troubled at it, presented the King sixty Markes, intreating him to make his sonne to returne to his Judaisme; whereupon the King sent for his sonne, commanding him without more adoe to returne to the Religion of his Nation. But the young man answered, he wondred his Majesty would use such words; for being a Christian, he should rather perswade him to Christianity: with which answer the King was so confounded, that he commanded the yo…g man to get h…m out of his sight. But his Father finding the King could doe no good upon his sonne, required his money againe; Nay (saith the King) I have taken paines enough for it, and yet that you may see how kindly I will deale, you shall have one halfe; and the other halfe you cannot in conscience deny me. There were fifty Gentlemen accused for hunting and killing the Kings Deere, which they denied, and were therefore condemned to the triall of fire; which by Gods mercifull judgement they passed through untouched: the King hearing it, and deceived of the confiscation he expected, is said in a great chafe to say; How happens this? Is God a just Judge in suffering it? Now a murraine take him that beleeves it. It seemes also he doubted of many points of Religion, then in credit. For he would often prote…t, that he beleeved not that Saints could profit any man in Gods sight, and therefore neither would he, nor any other that were wise (as he affirmed) make Intercession either to Peter, or to any other for helpe.
Affaires of the Church in his time.
THe King claimed the Investiture of Bishops to be his right, and forbad Appeales and Intercourse to Rome; (for no Appeales had ever beene used till Anselme in this Kings Reigne appealed to the Pope) upon whose complaint the Pope was about to Excommunicate the King, but having a little before Excommunicated the Emperour Henry the fourth (the first Christian Prince with Soveraigne author…ty, that was ever Excommunicate by any Pope) he forbore at that time to doe it, lest by making Excommunication common, he should make it be slighted. At this time great contention arose betweene the King and the Arch-Bishop Anselme: and Ans…lme not yeelding to the King in any point prejudiciall to the Popes authority; nor the King yeelding to Anselme in any point prejudiciall to his owne Prerogative; (which were points indeed Incompatible) the contention continued long and hot, and the hotter, because there were at that time two Popes on foote at once: one elected by the Conclave, called Urbanus the second; another set up by the Emperour, called Clement the third: for Anselme held with Urban, the King with Clement: and thus not agreeing in a third, it was impossible they should agree between themselves; and this contention, though palliated with pretentions, somtimes of one side, sometimes of another, yet brake out againe, and was renewed both in this Kings time, and in the times of many Kings after. Anselme often threathing his going to Rome, the King told him plainely he would not thrust him out of the Realme, but if he would goe without his leave, he would then keepe him out during his pleasure; and besides, he should carry nothing out of the Realme wi…h him: yet Anselme ventured it, and the King performed it; for William Warlewast was sent to rifle him in his passage at Sea of all he had, neither was he suffered to returne as long as the King lived; during all which time, the King tooke the profits of his Archbishoprick to his owne use. It may not be amisse to shew a passage here concerning the first cause of contention betweene the King and Anselme, which some say was this; The King required a thousand Markes of him for having preferred him to that See: which Anselme refused to give, as judging it no lesse Simony to give after the preferment then before: but yet afterward offering five hundred pounds, the King refused to accept it, as being worth (he said) five times as much: whereupon Anselme told him, Your Grace may have me, and all that is mine, to serve your turne in a friendly manner; but in the way of servitude and bondage, you shall never have me nor mine: Which words so angred the King, that they could never after be reconciled. In this Kings Reigne Pope Urbane exhorted all Christian Princes to joyne together for recovery of Ierusalem and the Holy Land: and by the solliciting of Peter an Hermite, there assembled for that enterprise, under the conduct of Godefry of Bulloigne, to the number of three hundred thousand men; amongst whom was Robert Duke of Normandy, who so valiantly carried himselfe in the action, that after Ierusalem was won, the Kingdome of it (as some write) was offered to him: but he looking more after the Kingdome of England, and therefore refusing it; It is observed he never prospered all his life after. In this Kings Reigne, although he had no command in Ireland, yet their Bishop of Dublin was sent over to Anselme Arch-bishop of Canterbury, to be Consecrated by him; and the Citizens of Waterford also desiring to have a Bishop, procured Murcherdach, King of Ireland, to write to Anselme, to give his consent. Also in this Kings dayes, the Pope forbad the marriage of Priests.
Workes of piety of this King, or by other in his time.
THis King gave to the Monkes of Southwarke, the Church of Saint Saviour of Be…mondsey, and Bermondsey it selfe; he also Founded at Yorke the Hospitall of Saint Leonards: He gave the Church of Saint Peter in the City of Bathe to be a Bishops See. Hugh Earle of Chester, in this Kings dayes builded the Abbey of Chester: Oswald Bishop of Salisbury, Founded the Cathedrall Church of Salisbury: Remigius Bishop of Dorchester, to the end his Bishoprick might be removed to Lincolne; beganne to build the Cathedrall Church of Lincolne; and Lanfrank Arch-Bishop of Canterbury builded two Hospitals without the City; the one of Saint Iohn, the other at Harbaldowne, repaired Christs Church, and caused five and twenty Manors to be restored to that See, which had unjustly beene withholden. He repaired also the Abbey of Saint Albans, and the Church of Rochester, where for foure secular Priests, he placed to the number of fifty Monkes. In the sixth yeare of this Kings Reigne, William Warren the first Earle of Surrey, and Gundred his wife, Founded the Abbey of Lewis in Sussex: and Warren Earle of Shrewsbury built two Abbeys, one in the Suburbs of Shrewsbury, the other at Wenlock. In his twelfth yeare, Robert Losaunge, Bishop of Thetford, removed his See from Thetford to Norwich, and founded there a faire Monastery.
His buildings and Structures.
THis King enlarged the Tower of London, and compassed it with new wals: he also built the great Hall at Westminster, being 270. foote in length, and 74. in breadth; but thinking it too little, he intended to have built another Hall which should have stretched from the Thames to the Kings streete. He repaired the City and Castle of Carlile, which had beene wasted by the Danes two hundred yeares before, and because it had but few Inhabitants, he brought a Colony thither out of the Southerne parts. He finished New-Castle upon Tyne, and many other Castles he erected or repaired upon the borders of Scotland; many also upon the frontires, and within the very breast of Wales.
Casualties happening in his Reigne.
IN the fourth yeare of his Reigne, on Saint Lukes day, above six hundred houses in London were throwne downe with tempest; and the roofe of Saint Mary Bow Church in Cheape, was so raised, that in the fall six of the beames being 27. foote long, were driven so deepe into the ground: (the streets being not then paved with stone) that not above foure foote remained in sight, and yet stood in such ranke and order as the workmen had placed them upon the Church. Also in this Kings Reigne all the Lands in Kent, sometimes belonging to Earle Godwin, were by breaking in of the Sea covered with Sands, and are called Godwins Sands to this day. In his eleventh yeare, at a Towne called Finchamstead in the County of Barkshire, a Well cast out bloud, as before it had done water: and after by the space of fifteene dayes, great flames of fire were seene in sundry places and at sundry times.
Of his Personage and Condition.
HE was but meane of stature, thick and square bodied, his belly swelling somewhat round, his face was red, his hai…e deepe yellow, whereof he was called Rufus; his forehead foure square like a window; his eyes spotted, and not one like another; his speech unpleasant, and not easily uttered, specially when he was moved with anger. Concerning the qualities of his minde, they may best be knowne by looking upon the actions of his life; in which we shall finde he was never more assured, then when he was least sure, never lesse dejected, then when in most extremity; being like a Cube, that which way soever he fell, he was still upon his bottome. For his delights to passe the time, there was none in more request with him then hunting, a delight hereditary to him, which was the cause that as his Father had begunne the great new Forest, so he enlarged it to a farre greater extent. Other delights of his we finde not any, unlesse we shall reckon his warres for delights: for though they were oftentimes forced upon him, when he could not avoyd them; yet sometimes he entred into them when he needed not, but for his pleasure. And in generall, it may be said that one of his greatest vertues, was that which is one of the greatest vertues, Magnanimity; and his worst vice, was that which was the worst of vices, Irreligion.
Presages that preceded his Death.
AT Finchamstead in Barkshire, neare unto Abington, a spring cast up liquor for the space of fifteene dayes, in substance and colour like to bloud. The night before the King was kild, a certaine Monk dream'd, that he saw the King gnaw the Image of Christ crucified with his teeth; and that as he was about to bite away the legges of the same Image, Christ with his feete spurned him downe to the ground: and that as he lay on the earth, there came out of his mouth a flame of fire, with abundance of smoake. This being related to the King by Robert Fits Mammon, he made a jest of it, saying; This Monke would faine have something for his Dreame: Goe, give him a hundred shillings; but bid him looke that he dreame more auspitious Dreames hereafter. Also the same night, the King himselfe dream'd that the veines of his armes were broken, and that the bloud issued out in great abundance: and many other like passages there were, by which it seemes he had friends somewhere, as well as Iulius Caesar, that did all they could to give him warning: but that as Caesars, so his Malus Genius would not suffer him to take it.
Of his Death and Buriall.
KIng William having kept his Christmas at Glocester, his Easter at Winchester, his Whitsontide at Westminster, notwithstanding forewarned by many signes of some great dysaster towards him, would needs the day after Lammas, goe a hunting in the New Forest; yet something resenting the many presages, he stayed within all the forenoone: about dinner time, an Artificer came and brought him sixe Crosse-bow Arrowes, very strong and sharpe; whereof foure he kept himselfe, and the other two he delivered to Sir Walter Tyrell, a Knight of Normandy his Bow-bearer; saying, Here Tyrell, take you two, for you know how to shoot them to purpose: and so having at dinner drunke more liberally then his custome, as it were in contempt of Presages, out he rides into the new Forest, where Sir Walter Tyrell shooting at a Deere, the arrow glanced against a tree, or as some write, grazed upon the back of the Deere, and flying forward, hit the King upon the breast; with which he instantly fell downe dead. Thus it is delivered by a common consent of all; onelyonly one Sugerius, a writer that lived at that time, and was a familiar acquaintance of the said Tyrels; against the current of all Writers, aff…irmes that he had often heard the said Sir Walter sweare that he was not in the Forest with the King all that day. I have beene the longer upon this point, because a more pregnant example of Gods judgement remaines not any where upon Record. For not onelyonly this King at this time, but before this, a brother of his named Richard, a young Prince of great hope; and also a Nephew of his, the sonne of his brother Robert, came all in this place to violent deaths: that although King William the Founder of the Forest, escaped the punishment in his owne person, yet it was doubled and trebled upon him in his issue. Thus died King William Ruf…s, in …he three and fortieth yeare of his age, and twelfth and some moneths of his Reigne. His body was drawne in a Colliers Cart with one Horse to the City of Winchester, where the day following it was buried in the Cathedrall Church of Saint Swithen, and was laid there in the Quire under a Marble stone, till afterward it was translated, and laid by King Canutus bones.
Men of Note i… his time.
FOr men of valour, he must stand alone by himselfe: for men of learning, there was Lanfranke, a Lombard, but Bishop of Canterbury: also Robert a Lorayne, who Epitomized the Chronicle of Marianus Scotus: also Turgotus an English man, Deane of Durham, who wrote the Annals of his owne time, and divers other works: but especially Osmund Bishop of Salisbury, who composed the ordinary Office, or book of Prayer.